May 10, 2023
In this Issue: Illinois to Become First State to End Book Bans ● Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in May ● State of the State Report with Lake County Legislators on Zoom ● Lake Dems Celebrate Flag Day with 2nd Annual Democrats Defending Democracy Event ● May is National Mental Health Awareness Month ● Let’s Talk Politics Event in Gurnee ● Last Week’s Amazing Democratic Events ● Order Your Official Lake Dems T-Shirt Now ● Volunteer Spotlight ● ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) ● Upcoming Events
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Illinois to Become First State to End Book Bans
Last week, the Illinois Senate passed legislation that will withhold state funding from libraries and schools that ban books for political reasons. “All these efforts to curb reading materials have absolutely nothing to do with books. They are about restricting the freedom of ideas that certain individuals disagree with and that certain individuals think others should have access to,” said newly elected Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias in a Politico article.
More than a dozen Lake County libraries were awarded money from the state in 2021, the latest year for which records have been released. According to Politico, each year more than 62 million dollars are allocated for libraries out of the Illinois State Budget. The bill says that in order for public libraries, including public schools and universities, to remain eligible for grant funding, they must adopt the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights or adopt their own written statement prohibiting the banning of books.
Governor Pritzker is expected to sign the bill in the coming weeks, which will make Illinois the first state to guarantee the freedom to read.
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Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in May
Per Gov. Pritzker’s Proclamation, “Over 780,000 Illinoisans of Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage have strengthened Illinois through their leadership and resilience and make up the fastest-growing racial demographic in the state.”
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) has launched its Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month celebrations which include spotlighting AAPI-owned businesses, hosting a series of business resource events and elevating community events during May 2023. Additional information about resources and events can be found here.
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth is surrounded by elected officials who are Illinois members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, including Lake County’s own County Treasurer Holly Kim, proudly sporting her Lake County Democrats t-shirt.
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State of the State Report with Lake County Legislators on Zoom
When: Sunday, June 4, 2023 at 7:00pm
Where: Online via Zoom
What: Join us for a briefing from our many Lake County Democratic State Senators and State Representatives. They’ll discuss the recently concluded spring 2023 legislative session live on Zoom. This event is free. Open to Democrats. Register here.
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Lake Dems Celebrate Flag Day with 2nd Annual Democrats Defending Democracy Event
When: Wednesday, June 14, 2023, time to be announced
Where: To be announced
What: Lake Dems host Democrats Defending Democracy event. Celebrate our victories over right-wing extremism with our Democratic elected officials and candidates. Stay tuned for more details, including the announcement of our exciting guest speakers.
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May is National Mental Health Awareness Month
During National Mental Health Awareness Month, we honor the courage of the tens of millions of Americans with mental health conditions, and we celebrate the loved ones and mental health professionals who support them every day. Read the White House Proclamation on National Mental Health Awareness Month here.
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Let’s Talk Politics Event in Gurnee
Join us May 25 at 7pm, at Tacos El Norte in Gurnee, as Tenth Dems, Lake Dems, and Warren Dems co-host another edition of Tenth Dems University (TDU) Let’s Talk Politics (LTP) series. This session will focus on reproductive health care rights. Admission is free. Open to Democrats.
Let’s Talk Politics is a series of moderated discussions that provide opportunities for Democrats to talk about important issues of the day with each other and guests that often include elected officials, candidates, political analysts, and authors. Register here.
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Last Week’s Amazing Democratic Events
Jan Schakowsky’s 22nd Annual Women’s Power Lunch
Over 1,000 people attended Jan Schakowsky’s Annual Ultimate Women’s Power Lunch in Chicago with guest speakers (from left) former Congresswoman and Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, Hon. Karen Bass, the first female Mayor of Los Angeles; Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (who represents part of Lake County); Nancy Kohn; and US House Democratic Whip Congresswoman Katherine Clark.
Unable to attend? Watch the entire event here.
Annual Women for Brad Brunch in Northbrook a Success
Young activist Scarlett Harper, Illinois State Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza, Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering, and more than 200 people joined in to support Congressman Brad Schneider, a champion of women’s rights.
Wauconda Township Dems Adopt-a-Highway Event
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Wauconda Township Democrats including Chair Dennis Leslie, Precinct Committeepersons Ken Tomchik and Mary Morgan, and Island Lake Village Trustee Stacey Pyne, were joined by volunteers Leah, Alyce, and Berlynn Kleisch, along with Jon and Addison Morgan. They collected 12 trash bags and four recycle bags which included 57 small alcohol bottles. The most interesting items found were a large 3×4 foot mirror, a hub cap and Halloween skeleton bones.
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Order Your Official Lake Dems T-Shirt Now
Show your Democratic spirit with an official Lake County Democrats t-shirt. A minimum contribution of $9 (our cost) is requested, though more is welcome and encouraged. We can arrange for you to pick them up or, if you want your shirt mailed to you, please select “Optional Shipping” to add $6 postage.
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Volunteer Spotlight
Lake Dems is grateful for our many active volunteers. Click here if you’re interested in helping.
Justin Pedersen, of Antioch, who has been volunteering with Lake Dems and Tenth Dems over the past four years, completed a summer 2020 internship with us. During that time he has helped manage a variety of projects. We are so appreciative that he has agreed to be Lake Dems Operations Director this summer before he heads off to The University of Pennsylvania in the fall to study political science. Among other things, he will help organize volunteer operations, events, and logistics. Justin says he is thrilled to take on this new role.
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ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)
Latest in Highland Park Mass Shooting Case: Evidence Review Expected to Wrap Up This Fall
‘Livid and Outraged’: Community Mourns After Waukegan Coach, Counselor Fatally Shot While Driving
Schneider, Schakowsky, Jackson Working to Prevent Default, Invest In America
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Upcoming Events
WEDNESDAY, MAY 10
Planned Parenthood of Illinois Annual Celebration. 5:30pm, Chicago and via live stream. More.
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Community Forum. 7-8pm, Lincolnshire. More.
NEW DATE – Indivisible Western Lake County (IWLC) May Meeting with Jennifer Banek. 7-8:30pm, Lindenhurst. More.
THURSDAY, MAY 11
Deputy Voter Registrar Training in Waukegan. 9:30am, Waukegan. More.
FRIDAY, MAY 12
Senator Dick Durbin Breakfast. 8:30am, Chicago. More.
SATURDAY, MAY 13
Brad Schneider’s Congress On Your Corner Town Hall in Wheeling. 11am, Wheeling. More.
Stop Fake Clinics Event in Chicago. 12-2pm, Chicago. More.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 17
Fremont Township Democrats May Meeting. 6pm, Mundelein. More.
THURSDAY, MAY 25
Let’s Talk Politics in Gurnee. 7pm, Gurnee. More.
SUNDAY, JUN. 4
State of the State Report With Lake County Legislators on Zoom. 7pm, online via Zoom. More.
WEDNESDAY, JUN. 14
Lake Dems Celebrate Flag Day with 2nd Annual Democrats Defending Democracy Event. Stay tuned for details. More.
For the complete list of Upcoming Events, go to lakedems.org/events.
Click here to submit your event for consideration.
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How Do I Join Lake County Democrats?
Lake County Democrats is made up of people like you, people who are passionate about building better communities and a better world. We’re a grassroots political organization, working with Democrats in all parts of Lake County – from Antioch to Highland Park, Libertyville to Waukegan, Barrington to Zion. Become a member online now, (individual: $35/couples $60 – though more is always appreciated), or send a check payable to Lake County Democrats to P.O. Box 671, Lake Zurich, IL 60047. Questions? Contact info@lakedems.org.
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